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Nick Iwanyshyn \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n
An ambulance carrying Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell leaves the field during the second half in Hamilton on Sunday.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
What can be said about Bo Levi Mitchell that hasn\u2019t already been said?<\/p>\n
He\u2019s looked phenomenal, been as efficient as ever, and had Steeltown residents daydreaming about hosting a Grey Cup parade later this year for the first time since 1999.<\/p>\n
The gridiron gods can be oh-so cruel because one hit \u2014 even a clean one like the one Bombers defensive lineman Jake Ceresna delivered on that play \u2014 can change everything.<\/p>\n
Mitchell underwent ankle surgery Monday morning and is expected to make a full recovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a proud Canadian and I absolutely frickin\u2019 love this league, and guys like that put this league on the map,\u201d said running back Brady Oliveira.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt sucks, man. It\u2019s tough for the league when a marquee guy like that goes down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mitchell released a statement on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will do everything I can to be back on that field with y\u2019all ASAP,\u201d wrote Mitchell, while also thanking his teammates for visiting that night at the hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo the fans and CFL, thank you for being a part of the best game there is. We have something special in Hamilton and this doesn\u2019t change that.\u201d<\/p>\n
DOWN GOES COLLAROS<\/p>\n
Zach Collaros started the game by throwing an interception on the opening snap, and his night didn\u2019t get any better from there.<\/p>\n
On the first play of the second quarter, he was strip-sacked from the blind side by linebacker Reggie Stubblefield, forcing the 37-year-old pivot out of the game with an upper-body injury.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s unknown whether Collaros was removed as a precaution or because of a legitimate injury, but regardless, the hit forced him to watch the rest of the game from the sideline.<\/p>\n
Even though Dru Brown had a full week with the Bombers \u2014 the team he broke into the league with \u2014 and had offensive co-ordinator Tommy Condell as his play-caller in Ottawa the past two seasons, head coach Mike O\u2019Shea opted to keep him on the reserve roster Sunday.<\/p>\n
His reasoning?<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t want to put him in there and have him have anything less than a full playbook,\u201d said O\u2019Shea.<\/p>\n
And yet, the passer that came off the bench instead \u2014 rookie Canadian Taylor Elgersma \u2014 was clearly operating with a playbook stripped down to the basics.<\/p>\n
His longest \u201cthrow\u201d was a 31-yard touchdown to Ontaria Wilson, who caught a shovel pass and did the rest himself.<\/p>\n
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Elgersma finished 11-for-15 for 86 passing yards. His passes travelled an average of 3.5 yards downfield per attempt. The league average this season is 11.2.<\/p>\n
As unimpressive as that sounds, he deserves credit for taking care of the football and doing just enough to give the Bombers a chance to rally from a 13-4 deficit.<\/p>\n
As for who gets the start on Friday, that will remain a mystery until Thursday, when the team is required to release its depth chart. The Bombers return to practice Wednesday, but it will be closed to the media and public.<\/p>\n
FORD\/DOLEGALA = YIKES<\/p>\n
The Ticats failed to score a single point after Mitchell exited.<\/p>\n
Head coach Scott Milanovich rotated between Tre Ford and Jake Dolegala, and both struggled under centre.<\/p>\n
Ford, a fifth-year pro out of Waterloo who signed with Hamilton after four seasons in Edmonton, never looked comfortable and threw a costly interception with 3:33 remaining. Dolegala wasn\u2019t any better, as his first pass should have been returned for a pick-six by Bombers halfback Deatrick Nichols.<\/p>\n
Ford\u2019s athleticism makes him an intriguing option, but he hasn\u2019t developed as a passer and isn\u2019t an ideal fit for a Milanovich offence.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Dolegala made a name for himself back in 2023 when he threw for over 300 yards against the Bombers on Labour Day to lead the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a thrilling 32-30 overtime victory. He\u2019s done virtually nothing since.<\/p>\n
The Ticats are in deep, deep trouble.<\/p>\n
BRADY BALL<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Nick Iwanyshyn \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira finished the game Sunday with 17 carries for 84 yards, including a 44-yard grind down the field to set up Sergio Castillo\u2019s game-winning field goal.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The Bombers made the smart decision on their final drive by handing the ball to Oliveira on seven straight plays, setting up a game-winning Sergio Castillo chip shot.<\/p>\n Oliveira went to work behind an offensive line that featured four Americans \u2014 likely a first in franchise history \u2014 in Stanley Bryant, Micah Mazzccua, Tyler Elsbury and Jarell Broxton.<\/p>\n Everyone in the stadium knew No. 20 was getting the football, yet he still churned out 44 yards.<\/p>\n \u201cI think in that moment when (Collaros) goes down, the mindset shifted to, \u2018OK, big time players got to show up in big moments,\u2019\u201d said Oliveira, who finished with 17 carries for 84 yards.<\/p>\n MAJOR MOMENT<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Nick Iwanyshyn \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n Winnipeg Blue Bombers rookie corner Major Williams (right) got his first career interception Sunday night that set up the Blue and Gold\u2019s game-winning drive.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n You have to give the Bombers\u2019 defence credit.<\/p>\n Before Mitchell went down, it bent but didn\u2019t break, forcing the Ticats to settle for two short field goals in the second quarter to keep the game from getting out of hand.<\/p>\n Former Manitoba Bisons defensive tackle Collin Kornelson \u2014 making his season debut \u2014 deserves a shoutout for a clutch knockdown in the red zone that very likely prevented Ticats receiver Kenny Lawler from hauling in his second touchdown of the game.<\/p>\n Then, late in the fourth quarter, it was rookie corner Major Williams \u2014 who was tested all night and fared extremely well \u2014 who intercepted Ford for his first career pick, giving Oliveira and company a chance to win the game.<\/p>\n Williams was still holding onto the football in the locker room.<\/p>\n \u201cIt might sleep with me tonight,\u201d said Williams.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople want to know why it looks so easy, but good things come to those who wait and hard work pays off.\u201d<\/p>\n winnipegfreepress.com\/taylorallen<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Taylor Allen Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree\/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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